The Days of Russian Religious Culture in Damascus

The Days of Russian Religious Culture in Damascus

The Days of the Russian Religious Culture opened in Damascus on 27 May 2005. The celebrations started with the Paschal Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross celebrated by Archbishop German of Kursk and Rylsk together with the ordained members of the Russian Orthodox delegation. The delegation was met by Bishop Moses and Bishop Gattaz, Vicars of His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios of Antioch, and many clergymen and laymen of the Patriarchate of Antioch. The choir of Moscow St. Daniel’s Monastery sang at the Liturgy. After the service Archbishop German and Bishop Gattaz exchanged welcoming addresses, in which they noted the importance of the tradition of fraternal relations between the two Churches. Bishop Gattaz conveyed to all those present a blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios.

An exhibition of contemporary church art is displayed in a conference hall of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in Damascus. The exhibition had been prepared by the International Educational Center of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was opened by Archbishop German of Kursk and Rylsk and R. Markarian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to the Syrian Arab Republic. Over thousand people attended the opening ceremony.

On 28 May 2005, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, which had arrived with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia to participate in the church and public celebrations on the occasion of opening a monument to St.Paul, met with Dr. M Dakhlallah, Syrian Information Minister. Then a press-conference took place, among the participants were members of the delegation and Bishop Moses of Daray.

See also:

• Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Arrives in Damascus